Defer Job Offer Due to Pregnancy?

Updated on November 18, 2010
I.W. asks from Ann Arbor, MI
8 answers

I have been offered a job and it won't start untl fall 2011-- supposedly in September but the exact date is not known yet. I'm thinking of getting pregnant because I know I will be very busy once I start working. I would rather have the baby before I start than to take leave shortly after I start and I think I would appreciate this if I were an employer, although I don't know what my employer would really think (and I don't know how to find out!). Suppose I'm due around the job starting date, do you think I could ask my employer to defer the offer once I find out that I'm pregnant? My biggest worry is that they would rescind the job offer-- I don't know whether they can do that and if they do, what recourse I can have. The job will be in New York City. Thanks and I will appreciate your opinions.

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S.B.

answers from Redding on

There are too many variables involved in this scenario.
Your job doesn't start for a year. You may or may not be pregnant or may or may not have a child. You've only been offered a position, you aren't hired and that offer can be rescinded. LIke I said, since it doesn't start for a year, it depends on what you have in writing. I'm guessing not much, since you aren't even sure of the possible start date.
You're trying to juggle a job and a child you don't have yet.
That's hard to do. But I really wish you luck.
Things will turn out as they are supposed to one way or the other.

2 moms found this helpful

C.B.

answers from Kansas City on

take the job, let the future work itself out. IF you do get pregnant, then it will depend on when you are due, etc. as to whether you bring it up, or when you do. there's realistic "planning" for the future (with an understanding that "we" don't decide as much as we think we do, and a million things could happen we don't "plan" for) and there's obsessing over every detail. you're not in as much control as you think. you could get pregnant tomorrow, or it could take three years. you don't know. or a year from now when the job comes up, you could be in a totally different place and not even be ready for a baby. you don't know. just relax about it. "i'm thinking of getting pregnant" isn't really something your boss needs to know about at this point.

1 mom found this helpful
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H.P.

answers from New York on

If you could guarantee getting pregnant the first month you try, then great! Unfortunately, getting pregnant is not guaranteed to happen as soon as you want it to. Being pregnant just around the time your job starts isn't optimal, but these things happen. As my OB once told me, "If you wait until the perfect time to have kids, you probably won't ever have them."
If you want and are ready for kids now, then go for it, but if you aren't mentally prepared and are just trying now b/c of timing issues, I'd wait. Good luck!

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J.B.

answers from Rochester on

I agree with most of the responses already. If this is a good job opportunity for you then take it. 1) you dont know how long it will take for you to get pregnant. and 2) you cannot be fired or demoted while on maternity leave.
I found out that I was pregnant a week before I had a job interview. I took the job and was 2.5 months pregnant by the time i started. I have been here 3 years and had a second baby during that time as well. I needed to get out of my old job and do not regret my decision at all. It was a little scary though, taking a job knowing I was pregnant. But everyone here has been very supportive and it is a very family friendly company.

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J.D.

answers from New York on

I agree, take the job and then take it all as it comes. I took a job in NYC knowing that I making a trip out to CA to see my now current husband a few weeks after I started, well, needless to say I came back from that trip and gave my notice for the end of that summer...I moved to California! You just never know what the future holds so take the opportunities you have now and let life keep happening! Congrats and good luck!

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S.R.

answers from Los Angeles on

I would take the job. There's no need to worry about deferring it unless you are not only pregnant but far enough along in your pregnancy. I'm sure things will work out in the end so try not to stress about it. A beautiful baby and a great job... you just don't know the order yet!!!

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C.O.

answers from New York on

TAKE THE JOB!! You don't know yet how long it will take to get pregnant, and if you sign a contract, they will probably wait for you. I love having my kids in New York City--feel free to contact me through Mamapedia if you have any questions about how to do it all.

It doesn't matter if your employer gets miffed. What matters is that when you do start the job that you do good work. Besides, so much can happen in 9 months. With both my kids I had major job changes and promotions while pregnant. But I was only off 3 months, and the world does not end in that amount of time.

Remember-a bird in the hand is worth two in the bush.

Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

A.N.

answers from New York on

I totally agree. You can plan too much on "ifs". Take the job and see how it all plays out.

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